Nationalist and Alliance politicians have condemned remarks by a leading Orange Order figure that unionists would paralyse Northern Ireland "within a matter of hours" if Orangemen were not allowed to march down the Garvaghy Road.
As the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, prepared to meet leaders of the Orange Order in Downing Street for crisis talks over the stand-off at Drumcree, Mr David McNarry, of the organisation's strategy committee, delivered a stark warning of the potential for civil disruption.
"If Her Majesty's Government is quite prepared to say those people who are suffering at Drumcree, who are staying out at night, who are there because they firmly believe in their civil and religious liberties, if they are to be treated so scantly, then I've got to say that we can, if we wish, put our minds to paralyse this country in a matter of hours," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, said the comments were "highly inflammatory". Members of the Orange Order delegation who met Mr Blair distanced themselves from the comments. The Armagh county chaplain, the Rev William Bingham, said violence would be "counter-productive".
"The Orange Order does not want to see Ulster paralysed. We're not in the business of bringing the province to rack and ruin," Mr Bingham said.
Mr McNarry is a businessman who was linked to the devolutionist wing of the UUP in the 1980s. He is said to be in favour of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Adams said: "Mr McNarry and other Orange spokespersons must accept that they cannot wash their hands of the violence, intimidation and terror which their protest has brought for many people over the last week."
The Drumcree protest had "inevitably resulted" in Catholic families being driven from their homes, the burning of Catholic schools and churches and the mass intimidation of nationalist communities. "Instead of issuing threats, Mr McNarry should be giving responsible leadership. Direct dialogue, rather than threats of escalation, is the only way to resolve this crisis," he said.
The SDLP described Mr McNarry's comments as "a very clear challenge to the authority of the State". Assembly member Ms Brid Rodgers, said Mr Mc Narry's comments were "inciteful".
He was attempting to bully Mr Blair, "by threatening the Chief Constable that if they don't let the parade go down the Garvaghy road they would paralyse the North", she said.
By holding firm, the British government was "asserting equality of rights" and the next thing needed "is dialogue, through whatever channels".
The Alliance Party accused Mr McNarry of "incitement" for suggesting the order could bring Northern Ireland to a standstill.
Its chief whip, Mr David Ford, said: "In the last few days we have heard increasingly dangerous comments by members of the Orange Order. The comments by Mr McNarry, which threatened to make Northern Ireland ungovernable, are a further attempt to increase tension."
He said he could imagine the reaction of unionists if republicans had made a similar threat.
Mr Ford urged the Orange Order and the Ulster Unionist Party, of which Mr McNarry is a member, to disown his comments. Families against Intimidation and Terror said it was being "inundated" with cases of intimidation and Mr McNarry's comments would make the situation "10 times worse".
The development officer of FAIT, Mr Glyn Roberts, said: "Does he not realise that this threat will be seen by many as encouragement to continue their violence until Northern Ireland is brought to a halt? How does he intend to bring the North to a halt? Is it by more people throwing petrol bombs or more intimidating road-blocks?"
However, the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, agreed with Mr McNarry's comment. "I think that is a factual statement but whether that takes place or not, we don't know," he told BBC Radio.
